DPW workers sentenced

Published 8:00 pm, Thursday, March 17, 2011

Two former Department of Public Works employees received suspended prison sentences and a $10,000 fine Thursday at Stamford Superior Court for their role in a transfer station scam.

Robert Grover, 47, of 14 Avenue E, and Francis Antunes, 49, of 63 Pemberton Drive, Trumbull, received five-year suspended prison sentences and five years of probation after they pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree larceny.

Antunes' attorney, Michael Corsello, said his client apologized to the city of Norwalk and the DPW, because his actions reflected negatively on them. Antunes also apologized to his family and his co-workers.

The criminal investigation that led to the arrests of Grover and Antunes was initiated in May 2010 when the DPW completed an audit of the Transfer Station and found that the outgoing tonnage did not match the tonnage that was being taken in, according to police.

The DPW also received several complaints from citizens that the weighmasters were accepting cash payment, which is in violation to the payment policy.

Two other persons were arrested for second-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit second-degree larceny in connection with the case.

Colonial Carting owner Robert Boulet and Milton's Carting owner Milton Kyriakides are accused of bribing DPW employees in exchange for free or discounted trash disposal, police said. Their cases are still pending.